Clinical and virological characteristics of hantavirus infections in a 2014 Croatian outbreak

Introduction: Croatia is endemic for hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS), with both Puumala (PUUV) and Dobrava virus (DOBV) documented. Several large outbreaks were recorded in 1995, 2002, and 2012. We analyzed demographic, clinical, laboratory, and virological characteristics of HFRS cases detected in three geographically close natural foci (Ogulin, Slunj, and the Plitvice Lakes surroundings) during the 2014 outbreak. Methodology: From January to December 2014, 122 patients with suspected HFRS were tested for hantavirus IgM/IgG antibodies using an indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA). Cross-reactive samples were further tested using a western blot (WB). For hospitalized patients from Ogulin area, clinical and laboratory data were analyzed. Results: Acute infection was documented in 57 (46.7%) patients, of whom 75.4% were hospitalized. Ten (8.2%) patients were found to be IgG seropositive. Patients were 15–69 years of age and predominantly male (74.5%). The outbreak started in winter months, with most cases recorded from May to July (80.7%). The most frequently reported symptoms were fever (96.3%), chills/shivering (62.9%), and lumbar pain (48.1%). Mild clinical form was found in 66.7% patients, moderate in 18.5%, and severe in 14.8% patients (all but one infected with PUUV). One patient died. Using IFA, 48.8% patients showed monotypic antibody response, while in 51.2%, cross-reactive antibodies were found. PUUV was confirmed in 94.7% and DOBV in 5.3% HFRS cases by WB. Conclusions: Central mountainous Croatian regions are still highly endemic areas for HFRS. A higher percentage of severe PUUV infections could be at least partly associated with a patient’s immune status.

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Pancreatitis in patients with hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome: A five-year experience

The Journal of Infection in Developing Countries ◽

10.3855/jidc.9567 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 11 (11) ◽

pp. 900-903

Author(s):

Edmond Puca ◽

Arjan Harxhi ◽

Pellumb Pipero ◽

Elda Qyra ◽

Gentian Stroni ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Rare Complication ◽

Laboratory Data ◽

Total Mortality ◽

Hemorrhagic Fever ◽

Positive Outcome ◽

Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay ◽

Common Symptom ◽

Igg Antibodies ◽

Average Patient ◽

Causative Agents

Introduction: Pancreatitis is a rare complication of hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS). The causative agents of HFRS are hantaviruses, which belong to the genus Hantavirus, family Bunyaviridae. The purpose of this study was to evaluate cases of acute pancreatitis (AP) in patients with HFRS at the Service of Infectious Diseases, Tirana, Albania. Methodology: In this retrospective study, clinical and laboratory data was obtained from 36 patients with confirmed HFRS, between January 2011 and December 2016. The diagnosis had been confirmed by a positive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for IgM or IgG antibodies to hantavirus. Results: The average patient age was 39.7 ± 14.1 years with a range of 15-59 years. From 36 HFRS patients, four (11.1%) were found to have AP, all were male. Abdominal pain was the most common symptom and an increase in amylase and lipase was observed in all four patients. Abdominal computed tomography (CT) indicated pancreatitis with surrounding edema, necrosis and hemorrhage. In this study, the total mortality was 11.1% (4/36), while mortality in patients with AP was 25% (1/4). Conclusions: The results indicate that AP is a serious complication of HFRS, with a poor prognosis. Increased awareness of AP in clinicians and assessment of amylasemia or lipasemia in patients with HFRS should be considered, especially in endemic areas where a rapid diagnosis is crucial for a positive outcome.

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Multifactorial analysis of clinical laboratory signs, the levels of IL-17A, IL-23, IL-33, IL-35, and specific antibodies in the serum of patients with Lyme borreliosis without erythema migrans

Russian Medical Inquiry ◽

10.32364/2587-6821-2020-4-11-676-681 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 4 (11) ◽

pp. 676-681

Author(s):

V.V. Sapozhnikova ◽

◽

A.L. Bondarenko ◽

Keyword(s):

Principal Component Analysis ◽

Lyme Borreliosis ◽

Clinical Laboratory ◽

Acute Infection ◽

Erythema Migrans ◽

Principal Component ◽

Component Analysis ◽

Control Group ◽

Multifactorial Analysis ◽

Specific Antibodies

Aim: to determine the association between clinical laboratory parameters, the production of cytokines (IL-17A, -23, -33, -35), and specific IgM and IgG in the serum of patients with Lyme borreliosis without erythema migrans. Patients and Methods: complete blood count, the concentrations of IL-17A, -23, -33, -35, and the levels of specific IgM and IgG were measured during acute infection and convalescence (n=30). The control group included age- and sex-matched healthy individuals (n=30). Statistical analysis was performed using the StatSoft Statistica v 10.0 software (parametric and non-parametric methods and multifactorial analysis, i.e., principal component analysis). Results: most (80%) patients with Lyme borreliosis without erythema migrans are the people of working age. In most patients, the combination of the specific antibodies against Borrelia afzelii and Borrelia garinii (76.7%) and severe intoxication and inflammatory process (100%) were detected. Moderate and severe disease associated with meningism was diagnosed in 90% and 10%, respectively. The mean duration of hectic period was 8.3±1.27 days. Abnormal ECG was reported in 40% of patients, i.e., conduction abnormalities in 20%, sinus bradycardia in 16.7%,and sinus tachycardia in 3.3%. The clinical laboratory signs of hepatitis without jaundice were identified in 26.7%. During treatment, the significant reduction in band and segmented neutrophil counts as well as the significant increase in platelet count were revealed compared to these parameters at admission. Abnormal cytokine levels (i.e., the increase in IL-17A, -23, -33 and the deficiency of IL-35) were detected. Conclusions: multifactorial analysis has demonstrated that the severity of immunological abnormalities in patients with Lyme borreliosis without erythema migrans is associated with fever, cardiac and liver disorders, the high levels of IL-23 and IL-33, and the lack of IL-35 and specific IgM and IgG. KEYWORDS: tick-borne borreliosis, Lyme disease without erythema migrans, clinical laboratory signs, cytokines, specific antibodies, multifactorial analysis, principal component analysis. FOR CITATION: Sapozhnikova V.V., Bondarenko A.L. Multifactorial analysis of clinical laboratory signs, the levels of IL-17A, IL-23, IL-33, IL-35, and specific antibodies in the serum of patients with Lyme borreliosis without erythema migrans. Russian Medical Inquiry. 2020;4(11):676–681. DOI: 10.32364/2587-6821-2020-4-11-676-681.

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A STUDY OF HEPATITIS B VIRUS GENOTYPES IN CHRONIC HEPATITIS B PATIENTS

Journal of Medicine and Pharmacy ◽

10.34071/jmp.2011.3.4 ◽

2011 ◽

pp. 25-29

Author(s):

Keyword(s):

Chronic Hepatitis ◽

Hepatitis B ◽

Chronic Hepatitis B ◽

Clinical Laboratory ◽

Laboratory Data ◽

Hbv Dna ◽

Hbv Genotypes ◽

B Virus ◽

Virus Genotypes ◽

Genotype C

Aims: To measure the prevalence of HBV genotypes in chronic hepatitis B patients and their relation to HBeAg and HBV DNA level. Methods: 81 patients were enrolled in this study from January 2009 to December 2010. Clinical, laboratory data were collected during the patient’s hospitalization. Sera were quantitatively tested for HBeAg and HBV DNA. HBV genotyping was made by real-time PCR. Results: Among the 81 patients, 60.5% had genotype B, 26.7% had genotype C and 8.6% had mixed genotype B-C. Prevalence of symptoms (fatigue, anorexia, insomnia...) was higher in genotype C than in genotype B. Genotype C patients had positivity higher HBeAg than genotype B patients (56% vs. 38,8%, p <0.05). The rate of HBV DNA > 107 copies/mL was higher in genotype C group than in genotype B group (36% vs. 28,6%, p > 0.05). Conclusions: Most of the patients had genotypes B or C. Patients with genotype C had positive HBeAg and may be related to higher serological HBV DNA level than in genotype B.

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New Insight for the Prognosis of CCHF: Clinical, Laboratory and Sonography Findings

Current Medical Imaging Formerly Current Medical Imaging Reviews ◽

10.2174/1573405615666191111115354 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 16 (9) ◽

pp. 1125-1130

Author(s):

Hamid Owaysee Osquee ◽

Sepehr Taghizadeh ◽

Mehdi Haghdoost ◽

Hadi Pourjafar ◽

Fereshteh Ansari

Keyword(s):

Odds Ratio ◽

Clinical Laboratory ◽

Fatal Outcome ◽

Hemorrhagic Fever ◽

Demographic Characteristics ◽

Pelvic Cavity ◽

Fatal Disease ◽

Laboratory Findings ◽

Report Data ◽

Sistan And Baluchestan

Introduction: In this article, we report data on confirmed CCHF cases from Iran and describe the association between studying factors and outcomes of the disease. Objective: Crimean Congo Hemorrhagic Fever (CCHF) is an acute and fatal disease with various clinical and paraclinical characteristics. Methods: In the Study design, we evaluated demographic characteristics, clinical, laboratory and sonographic findings of 160 CCHF confirmed cases during 2003 and 2012 in Zabol (A city in Sistan and Baluchestan province of Iran). The association between these factors and the fatal outcome was evaluated by regression analysis. Results: The disease had a fatal outcome in 7 (4.4%) of patients. Females had more severe symptoms and higher odds for death (odds ratio11.57, p=0.005). Leukocytosis (p<0.001), PT (p<0.001) and PTT (p=0.008) elongation, AST (p=0.010) and ALT (p<0.001) elevation were significantly associated with fatal outcome. CNS related symptoms (odds ratio 5.9, p=0.027) in clinical examination and ascites (odds ratio 38.4, p=0.012) and liquid in the pelvic cavity (odds ratio 24.2, p=0.004) were also identified as risk factors of death in this study. Conclusions: Our data suggest that in addition to clinical and laboratory findings practitioners consider sonography for CCHF prognosis.

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Analyses of longitudinal, hospital clinical laboratory data with application to blood glucose concentrations

Statistics in Medicine ◽

10.1002/sim.4352 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 30 (27) ◽

pp. 3208-3220 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Jonathan S. Schildcrout ◽

Sebastien Haneuse ◽

Josh F. Peterson ◽

Joshua C. Denny ◽

Michael E. Matheny ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Blood Glucose ◽

Clinical Laboratory ◽

Laboratory Data ◽

Blood Glucose Concentrations

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The association between clinical laboratory data and chest CT findings explains disease severity in a large Italian cohort of COVID-19 patients

BMC Infectious Diseases ◽

10.1186/s12879-021-05855-9 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Simone Canovi ◽

◽

Giulia Besutti ◽

Efrem Bonelli ◽

Valentina Iotti ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Clinical Laboratory ◽

Laboratory Data ◽

Organ Damage ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Chest Ct ◽

Arterial Oxygen ◽

Emergency Rooms ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Ct Findings ◽

Patient Prognosis

Abstract Background Laboratory data and computed tomography (CT) have been used during the COVID-19 pandemic, mainly to determine patient prognosis and guide clinical management. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between CT findings and laboratory data in a cohort of COVID-19 patients. Methods This was an observational cross-sectional study including consecutive patients presenting to the Reggio Emilia (Italy) province emergency rooms for suspected COVID-19 for one month during the outbreak peak, who underwent chest CT scan and laboratory testing at presentation and resulted positive for SARS-CoV-2. Results Included were 866 patients. Total leukocytes, neutrophils, C-reactive protein (CRP), creatinine, AST, ALT and LDH increase with worsening parenchymal involvement; an increase in platelets was appreciable with the highest burden of lung involvement. A decrease in lymphocyte counts paralleled worsening parenchymal extension, along with reduced arterial oxygen partial pressure and saturation. After correcting for parenchymal extension, ground-glass opacities were associated with reduced platelets and increased procalcitonin, consolidation with increased CRP and reduced oxygen saturation. Conclusions Pulmonary lesions induced by SARS-CoV-2 infection were associated with raised inflammatory response, impaired gas exchange and end-organ damage. These data suggest that lung lesions probably exert a central role in COVID-19 pathogenesis and clinical presentation.

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Factors predicting length of stay in patients hospitalized for acute parotitis

Journal of Investigative Medicine ◽

10.1136/jim-2020-001506 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. jim-2020-001506

Author(s):

Avinoam Markovich ◽

Ohad Ronen

Keyword(s):

Clinical Laboratory ◽

Medical Center ◽

White Cell Count ◽

Acute Infection ◽

Retrospective Chart Review ◽

Significant Treatment ◽

Patient Age ◽

Factors Affecting ◽

Patient Âgé ◽

Length Of Hospitalization

Acute suppurative parotitis (ASP) is an acute infection of the parotid gland that necessitates hospitalization in some patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate clinical laboratory values including hydration, nutritional status, inflammatory markers and age, and to compare them with duration of hospitalization of patients with ASP. This is a retrospective chart review in a tertiary academic center. We investigated the factors affecting length of hospitalization in patients admitted to Galilee Medical Center with a diagnosis of ASP between 2010 and 2018. Of the 60 patients with ASP included in the study, 24 were male. The average age of patients was 60, ranging from 18 to 99. We found statistically significant correlations between length of hospitalization and patient age (r=0.3), C reactive protein (r=0.3), white cell count (WCC) at presentation (r=0.3), blood urea nitrogen to creatinine ratio (BUN:Cr) (r=0.2), and platelet levels at discharge (r=0.4). Examination of these factors on multivariate analysis found hospitalization duration was exclusively affected by patients’ level of dehydration as represented by BUN:Cr. Patient age, WCC levels at presentation, and platelet levels were not found to be statistically significant. Treatment and interventions should be planned accordingly.

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Defining Kawasaki disease and pediatric inflammatory multisystem syndrome-temporally associated to SARS-CoV-2 infection during SARS-CoV-2 epidemic in Italy: results from a national, multicenter survey

Pediatric Rheumatology ◽

10.1186/s12969-021-00511-7 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 19 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Marco Cattalini ◽

◽

Sara Della Paolera ◽

Fiammetta Zunica ◽

Claudia Bracaglia ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Kawasaki Disease ◽

Clinical Laboratory ◽

Troponin T ◽

Inflammatory Diseases ◽

Age At Onset ◽

Laboratory Data ◽

Clinical Manifestations ◽

Chi Square ◽

Pediatric Society ◽

Multicenter Survey

Abstract Background There is mounting evidence on the existence of a Pediatric Inflammatory Multisystem Syndrome-temporally associated to SARS-CoV-2 infection (PIMS-TS), sharing similarities with Kawasaki Disease (KD). The main outcome of the study were to better characterize the clinical features and the treatment response of PIMS-TS and to explore its relationship with KD determining whether KD and PIMS are two distinct entities. Methods The Rheumatology Study Group of the Italian Pediatric Society launched a survey to enroll patients diagnosed with KD (Kawasaki Disease Group – KDG) or KD-like (Kawacovid Group - KCG) disease between February 1st 2020, and May 31st 2020. Demographic, clinical, laboratory data, treatment information, and patients’ outcome were collected in an online anonymized database (RedCAP®). Relationship between clinical presentation and SARS-CoV-2 infection was also taken into account. Moreover, clinical characteristics of KDG during SARS-CoV-2 epidemic (KDG-CoV2) were compared to Kawasaki Disease patients (KDG-Historical) seen in three different Italian tertiary pediatric hospitals (Institute for Maternal and Child Health, IRCCS “Burlo Garofolo”, Trieste; AOU Meyer, Florence; IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genoa) from January 1st 2000 to December 31st 2019. Chi square test or exact Fisher test and non-parametric Wilcoxon Mann-Whitney test were used to study differences between two groups. Results One-hundred-forty-nine cases were enrolled, (96 KDG and 53 KCG). KCG children were significantly older and presented more frequently from gastrointestinal and respiratory involvement. Cardiac involvement was more common in KCG, with 60,4% of patients with myocarditis. 37,8% of patients among KCG presented hypotension/non-cardiogenic shock. Coronary artery abnormalities (CAA) were more common in the KDG. The risk of ICU admission were higher in KCG. Lymphopenia, higher CRP levels, elevated ferritin and troponin-T characterized KCG. KDG received more frequently immunoglobulins (IVIG) and acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) (81,3% vs 66%; p = 0.04 and 71,9% vs 43,4%; p = 0.001 respectively) as KCG more often received glucocorticoids (56,6% vs 14,6%; p < 0.0001). SARS-CoV-2 assay more often resulted positive in KCG than in KDG (75,5% vs 20%; p < 0.0001). Short-term follow data showed minor complications. Comparing KDG with a KD-Historical Italian cohort (598 patients), no statistical difference was found in terms of clinical manifestations and laboratory data. Conclusion Our study suggests that SARS-CoV-2 infection might determine two distinct inflammatory diseases in children: KD and PIMS-TS. Older age at onset and clinical peculiarities like the occurrence of myocarditis characterize this multi-inflammatory syndrome. Our patients had an optimal response to treatments and a good outcome, with few complications and no deaths.

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Moraxella lacunata infection accompanied by acute glomerulonephritis

Open Medicine ◽

10.1515/med-2020-0234 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 15 (1) ◽

pp. 962-967

Author(s):

Nami Sawada ◽

Tamaki Morohashi ◽

Tomokazu Mutoh ◽

Tsukasa Kuwana ◽

Junko Yamaguchi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Clinical Laboratory ◽

Case Reports ◽

Laboratory Data ◽

Inflammatory Cells ◽

Final Diagnosis ◽

Renal Tissue ◽

Acute Glomerulonephritis ◽

Pathological Findings ◽

Complement Activity ◽

Moraxella Lacunata

AbstractMoraxella lacunata (M. lacunata) is a Gram-negative bacterium, which rarely causes serious infection. This is a rare case report of acute glomerulonephritis diagnosed by pathological findings in a child accompanied by M. lacunata infection. The patient showed hematuria, proteinuria and hyperkalemia requiring emergency hemodialysis. After hospitalization, M. lacunata bacteremia became apparent. Pathological findings showed an increase in glomerulus inflammatory cells and glomerular C3 deposition was observed in the renal tissue biopsy. Final diagnosis was endocapillary proliferative glomerulonephritis. Clinical reports of M. lacunata infection requiring emergency hemodialysis in children are rare. Previous reports have suggested that lowered immune competency with chronic kidney disease may be a risk factor associated with serious invasive cases of M. lacunata infection. However, detailed clinical laboratory data and pathological findings have not been identified in previous case reports. Our case directly indicated complement activity and acute glomerulonephritis with M. lacunata infection. Although there are various causes for acute glomerulonephritis, infection-related glomerulonephritis (IRGN) is an important concept. M. lacunata infection might have a potential risk for IRGN with dysregulation of complement activity leading to serious and invasive clinical conditions than previously considered.

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